UAVs have been employed by the military for years, and their sophistication is increasing.   Smaller and lighter components are allowing designers to give military UAVs more capabilities, and have brought previously exclusively military technologies like UAV-mounted cameras to consumer drones. As sensor technology gets smaller, lighter, and cheaper, more and more mechanical processes canRead More

Rugged connectors are required for applications in a wide variety of settings, from sterile medical facilities to downhole oil and gas rigs. Key considerations for specification include the environment, the function, and the performance requirements.   Rugged Connector Checklist Rugged connectors must be able to function in environments and under circumstances that would challenge typicalRead More

End products intended for use in harsh applications are often potted or overmolded to make them impact-resistant and/or waterproof. Although beneficial for the end consumer, this final encapsulation process can negatively affect the electrical and mechanical integrity of the product’s connections.    With so many connector options available, it can be difficult to filter throughRead More

With technology costs decreasing, growing consumer interest in connected home applications, and greater reliance on the efficiency of the Cloud, solutions for home and commercial building automation become more sophisticated and accessible. Intelligent Buildings and Smart Homes The global home automation market now encompasses all controllable elements in the modern home. Connected lighting, appliances, entertainment, andRead More

Today we see all types of robotic devices that do everything from vacuum your floors to clean up nuclear waste. Originally focused on industrial and hazardous applications, robots are now appearing in warehouses, hospitals, and even the home. The concept of automated devices that extend human capabilities has sparked the imagination of people for manyRead More

Cisco’s Digital Ceiling, which aims to bring together the many networks within a building, wouldn’t work without connector and cable provider partners. The Digital Ceiling, launched earlier this year by Cisco, marries the many networks within a building, including lighting, heating, cooling, and video, to one network platform. Because both connection and cabling solutions play suchRead More

We reached out to top interconnect suppliers to find out about their latest and greatest product launches for wireless applications.   Wireless Product Roundup Amphenol recently expanded its AISG Cable Assembly product offering to include four-, five-, and six-pin arrangements in overmolded as well as traditional mechanical options. Custom cable assemblies are also available. ConnectorsRead More

FCI took the next step in the development of high-speed backplanes when it developed a cost-efficient way to deliver higher speed and density. While Teradyne and its partner Molex were increasing speed with successive generations of large, expensive, heavily shielded waferized connectors, FCI was listening to its large base of telecom, storage, and low-end computingRead More

By connecting an Italian line of frozen-treat machines via the Internet of Things, the equipment maker prevents unnecessary ice cream downtime. The maker of large-scale gelato, ice cream, and frozen-dessert equipment, Carpigiani of Bologna, Italy, re-upped its agreement with connected-business solution provider Telenor Connexion earlier this summer with hopes that 4,000 gelato-making machines will soon joinRead More

Certain strains of bacteria are disrupting standard safety protocol in industries from agriculture and food preparation to medical equipment manufacturing and healthcare. The healthcare industry must reevaluate everything from patient care procedures down to the materials used in medical devices. Advancement and evolution are usually considered in a positive light – unless they occur inRead More

Reducing the footprint of components enhances functionality in smaller spaces. To meet this demand in the medical industry, device manufacturers are using pressure-sensitive adhesives for interconnects, grounding, and shielding applications.   Advancements in electronics technology are enabling medical electronic equipment designed for faster diagnosis, improved patient quality of life, and new drug-based therapies. Patient monitoring,Read More

At IMS 2016, 5G and microwave applications dominated, according to our man on the floor, Bishop & Associates’ David Shaff. IMS 2016 or, more appropriately, “Microwave Week,” continues to reflect the growth of wireless technology. Organized by the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technique Society (MTT-S), this year’s IMS began with the RFIC Symposium, continued withRead More